Joe

He never knew his father His mother was a "HO" The kids at school would call him That little dirty face Joe Joe's clothes were always ragged No shoes upon his feet He lived with his mother in shanty town With barely enough to eat When Joe asked about his father His mother laughed and said, "He could be any of the men I have taken to bed." His mother once was beautiful Fair skin and golden hair Now she looks like a sea hag And doesn't seem to care When he was ten Joe ran away He could take no more He realized what his mother did When he was only four By day he begged on the street At night he slept in the park He always cried himself to sleep Because he was afraid of the dark I wish this had a happy ending I wish Joe was doing well But he was shot in a gang war And died where he fell